Elliptical trainer

ABSTRACT

An elliptical trainer includes a frame having a post with two handles pivotally connected to the post. A rotary member is rotatably connected to the frame and a first roller and a second roller eccentrically extend from each of two surfaces of the rotary member. Two pedals are respectively connected to the two handles and movably engaged with respective the two second rollers. Two cables each have a first end fixedly connected to respective one of the two pedals and a second end of each of the two cables reeves through respective one of the two first rollers and is connected to the frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an elliptical trainer whereinthe pedals each have a shaft rolling on a roller which is eccentricallyconnected to a rotary member and two pivotal handles are connected tothe pedals. Each pedal has a tension cable to maintain proper tension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional elliptical trainers generally include a huge bodywith a crank rotatably connected to the body and two pedals areconnected to the crank. Two handles are connected to the two pedals. Themovement track of the pedals is not a smooth elliptical shape and whenthe pedals are moved to two extreme positions, the feet have to changedirection so as to continue the cycle. The muscles of the user's feetare suffered by a sharp angle change and this could hurt the users. Inother words, the track that the pedals of the conventional ellipticaltrainers is a flat oval track and this movement track is totallydifferent from the normal way that people walk or run so that the userscould be hurt at two peak positions of the oval track.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide an elliptical trainerthat provides a smooth track of movement of the pedals so that theusers' muscles will not be suffered by a sudden change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an elliptical trainer and comprises a frame having a post andtwo handles are pivotally connected to the post. A rotary member isrotatably connected to the frame and a first roller and a second rollereccentrically extend from each of two surfaces of the rotary member. Twopedals each have a first end thereof pivotally connected to respectiveone of the two handles and a second end of each of the two pedals ismovably engaged with respective one of the two second rollers. Twocables each have a first end fixedly connected to respective one of thetwo pedals and a second end of each of the two cables reeves throughrespective one of the two first rollers and is connected to the frame.

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide anelliptical trainer wherein the pedals each have a shaft movably engagedwith the respective one of two rollers and the movement of the pedalsare smooth.

[0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, two preferred embodimentsin accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show an elliptical trainer of thepresent invention;

[0008]FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show that the two pedals of theelliptical trainer of the present invention are located to 0 degree and180 degree positions;

[0009]FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show that the two pedals of theelliptical trainer of the present invention are located to 90 degree and270 degree positions;

[0010]FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the elliptical trainer of thepresent invention;

[0011]FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the elliptical trainer ofthe present invention, and

[0012]FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the elliptical trainer of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the elliptical trainer of the presentinvention comprises an I-shaped frame 1 which has a post 10 with twohandles 2 pivotally connected to the post 10. Each of the handles 2 hasa transverse bar on which a spring member 6 is secured and wrapped. Anend of each of the springs 6 is fixedly connected to position 102 on thepost 10. A rotary member 40 such as a wheel is rotatably connected tothe frame 1 and a casing 5 is mounted to the rotary member 40, whereinthe casing 5 has a hole 50 to receive the rotary member 40. A commonshaft 44 extends eccentrically from each of two surfaces of the rotarymember 40, and each of the common shafts 44 has a first roller 41 and asecond roller 42 mounted thereto. Each of the first rollers 41 and thesecond rollers 42 has a groove 410/420.

[0014] Two pedals 30 each have a shaft 31 which has a first endpivotally connected to the respective one of the two handles 2 and asecond end of each of the two shafts 31 is engaged with respective oneof the grooves 420 of the second rollers 42. The shafts 31 are movedrelative to the second rollers 42 when the second rollers 42 rotate.

[0015] Two cables 43 each have a first end fixedly connected torespective one of the two pedals 30 at position 32 and a second end ofeach of the two cables 43 reeves through respective one of the two firstrollers 41 and is connected to the frame 1 at position 12 on the post10.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIGS. 4 and 5, when stepping oneof the pedals 30, the other pedal 30 is moved because the pedals 30 areengaged with the second rollers 42 on the rotary member 40. The shafts31 are moved relative to the second rollers 42 when the second rollers42 rotate so that the movement of the pedals 30 is smooth. When thepedals 30 are moved along with the rotation of the rotary member 40, thetwo handles 2 are swung. The spring members 6 and the cables 43 maintaina proper tension force for the movement of the pedals 30 and the handles2. The pedals 300 are allowed to be pivoted about the second rollers 42and are moved relative to the second rollers 42 so that the movement ofthe pedals 30 are natural and smooth as the users are walking orrunning.

[0017] The rotary member can be a crank 40′ as shown in FIG. 6, thecrank 40′ extends through the hole 50 in the casing 5 and the commonshafts 44 respectively connected to two crank arms of the crank 40′.

[0018]FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the first end of each of the cables 43 canbe fixed on the casing 5 and the second end of each of the cables 43 isconnected to the handle 2.

[0019] While we have shown and described the embodiments in accordancewith the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in theart that further embodiments may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An elliptical trainer comprising: a frame havinga post with two handles pivotally connected to said post, a rotarymember pivotally connected to said frame and a first rollereccentrically extending from each of two surfaces of said rotary member,a second roller connected to each of the first rollers; two pedals eachhaving a first end thereof pivotally connected to respective one of saidtwo handles and a second end of each of said two pedals movably engagedwith respective one of said two second rollers, and two cables eachhaving a first end fixedly connected to respective one of said twopedals and a second end of each of said two cables receiving throughrespective one of said two first rollers and fixedly connected to saidelliptical trainer.
 2. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of said first rollers and said second rollers has a groove,said two pedals each having a shaft which is engaged with respective oneof said grooves of said second rollers, said two cables received in saidgrooves of said two first rollers.
 3. The elliptical trainer as claimedin claim 1, wherein said first roller and said second roller are mountedon a common shaft which extends eccentrically from said rotary member.4. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotarymember is a wheel.
 5. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 1wherein said rotary member is a crank.
 6. The elliptical trainer asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of said two handles has a first end ofa spring member connected thereto and a second end of each of saidspring members is connected to said post.
 7. An elliptical trainercomprising: a frame having a post with two handles pivotally connectedto said post, a rotary member pivotally connected to said frame and afirst roller eccentrically extending from each of two surfaces of saidrotary member, a second roller connected to each of the first rollers;two pedals each having a first end thereof pivotally connected torespective one of said two handles and a second end of each of said twopedals movably engaged with respective one of said two second rollers,and two cables each having a first end fixedly connected to said casingand a second end of each of said two cables receiving through respectiveone of said two first rollers and connected to respective one of saidtwo handles.
 8. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 7, whereineach of said first rollers and said second rollers has a groove, saidtwo pedals each having a shaft which is engaged with respective one ofsaid grooves of said second rollers, said two cables received in saidgrooves of said two first rollers.
 9. The elliptical trainer as claimedin claim 7, wherein said first roller and said second roller are mountedon a common shaft which extends eccentrically from said rotary member.10. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said rotarymember is a wheel.
 11. The elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 7wherein said rotary member is a crank.
 12. The elliptical trainer asclaimed in claim 7, wherein each of said two handles has a first end ofa spring member connected thereto and a second end of each of saidspring members is connected to said post.